Kazakhstan reiterates its commitment to the fundamental principles of the international law in accordance with the UN Charter in connection with the holding of a referendum in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on March 16, 2014, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said on March 18.

"Kazakhstan considers Crimea's referendum as a free expression of the Autonomous Republic population's will and understands the decision of the Russian Federation in these circumstances," according to the statement.

Kazakhstan stands for Ukraine's peaceful ways out of the crisis and its overcoming through the negotiation process under the auspices of the UN and other international organizations, according to the foreign ministry's statement.

An agreement on Crimea joining the Russian Federation was signed in the Kremlin on March 18.

A referendum on the status of Crimea was held on March 16. More than 96 percent of voters voted for the autonomy joining Russia.

Most world countries issued a statement of non-recognition of the referendum results.

There was a change of power in Ukraine on February 22.

The Verkhovna Rada ousted President Yanukovych, changed the constitution and set the presidential election on May 25. Yanukovych said that he was forced to leave Ukraine under threat of violence. He remains the legally elected president. A number of areas in eastern and southern Ukraine, as well as Crimea did not recognize the legitimacy of the Verkhovna Rada and made a decision on holding a referendum on the future situation of regions.